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Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith and Get to Heaven
Do you wish there was a more practical way to live your faith in the midst of a busy life? Bestselling author and National Catholic Register columnist Patti Maguire Armstrong created what she calls “holy hacks” to help. This fun and fast-paced resource is full of concrete tips for living the faith right where you are. With about two-hundred simple and creative ways to grow in holiness, you can find something to help you engage your faith and grow in Christ every day. The idea for Holy Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith and Get to Heaven came from three popular columns Armstrong wrote in the National Catholic Register . The book provides fun and simple tips that make holiness attainable by everyday Catholics in everyday Practitioners of Holy Hacks will discover that holiness is less about doing big things than about making use of countless and simple ways for us to love God and our neighbors. The book also includes hacks from notable and high-profile Catholic writers and speakers, including Rev. Donald Calloway, MIC; Fr. Mitch Pacwa; and Kathryn Jean Lopez.
- GenresReligion
192 pages, Paperback
Published February 8, 2019
16 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 7, 2019
This little book is a gold mine of simple ways to focus our lives on living our faith more fully and growing closer to God. We all practice little shortcuts to shore up our faith and that's part of what makes this collection so appealing.
Topics range from relationships, avoiding gossip, humility, and liturgical seasons like Lent and Easter. It isn't just lists of hacks. Each chapter has more in-depth commentary which is often broken into different sections — relationships, for example include family, friends, and marriage — with, of course, holy hacks for each.
I'm reminded of nothing so much as St. Terese's "little way" of living the faith fully by simple "hacks" like always smiling at someone she disliked or methods she used to ignore someone else's unconscious, continual pencil tapping.
A few of my favorite hacks:
- Say grace in public — even at vending machines.
- Make a prayer pick of the day for someone who makes your skin crawl, and pray for them. No matter how heroic you feel, remember that "the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you" (Mt. 7:2).
- Gossip Hack: Give a compliment about a person being attacked. It will stop gossipers in their tracks.
- Marriage Hack: When you are about to complain about something, stop and say a prayer for your spouse instead.
- Say a prayer and make a sacrifice, as a perfect go-together. Don't overlook little things, such as skipping a cookie and saying a Hail Mary.
- Do not address the devil unless you are renouncing him; speak only to God and the angels and saints. (This is one I already follow ... there have been times when I've responded to a temptation with, "You've gotta be dreamin. Just get lost." And then I turn to my guardian angel and St. Michael.
This would be a perfect gift for confirmation or someone just entering the church. Though it is also great just for everyday living. I know it is a book I'll be picking up often.
Topics range from relationships, avoiding gossip, humility, and liturgical seasons like Lent and Easter. It isn't just lists of hacks. Each chapter has more in-depth commentary which is often broken into different sections — relationships, for example include family, friends, and marriage — with, of course, holy hacks for each.
I'm reminded of nothing so much as St. Terese's "little way" of living the faith fully by simple "hacks" like always smiling at someone she disliked or methods she used to ignore someone else's unconscious, continual pencil tapping.
A few of my favorite hacks:
- Say grace in public — even at vending machines.
- Make a prayer pick of the day for someone who makes your skin crawl, and pray for them. No matter how heroic you feel, remember that "the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you" (Mt. 7:2).
- Gossip Hack: Give a compliment about a person being attacked. It will stop gossipers in their tracks.
- Marriage Hack: When you are about to complain about something, stop and say a prayer for your spouse instead.
- Say a prayer and make a sacrifice, as a perfect go-together. Don't overlook little things, such as skipping a cookie and saying a Hail Mary.
- Do not address the devil unless you are renouncing him; speak only to God and the angels and saints. (This is one I already follow ... there have been times when I've responded to a temptation with, "You've gotta be dreamin. Just get lost." And then I turn to my guardian angel and St. Michael.
This would be a perfect gift for confirmation or someone just entering the church. Though it is also great just for everyday living. I know it is a book I'll be picking up often.
March 8, 2019
As I was finishing Patti Armstrong's "Holy Hacks" - I realized I wasn't so much finishing a book - as much as I was absorbing it. It is excellent. As I was taking it in, I discovered her "hack" method was taking me down dozens of unconsidered avenues and untaken adventures. In a way, Armstrong's approach was directing me to become a saint. Even though I've finished "Holy Hacks", it will be resting on my nightstand for a while.
I hadn't really even known the meaning of "hacks" until I purchased this book. Armstrong's method was unique to me. Her book proposes quick-hitting suggestions on deepening one's prayer life, eliminating gossip, achieving humility or even dealing with Satan, etc. It is solid stuff. As a man, I just want practical measures to help move me along in life - and this book does it. It is concrete. Nothing is trite. My book is a highlighted mess.
As I read on, I found myself sharing a few of my more favorite hacks with my teenagers. I've also already implemented some of her hacks - for instance in her chapter on Spiritual Protection, she writes, "Take authority in your home by claiming your children for God. Say a prayer to consecrate them to God, and consecrate them to the Blessed Mother for their protection." Done. Simple, yet profound and practical. There are tons of spiritual insights such as this one in her book.
I also appreciated her manner of setting the tone for each chapter with her own personal anecdotes, insights and quotes from saints, the Catechism and even interviews with exorcists. We need more practical advice to attain peaceful and holier lives in these difficult Church days. Armstrong's book points us there - at least it did me.
I hadn't really even known the meaning of "hacks" until I purchased this book. Armstrong's method was unique to me. Her book proposes quick-hitting suggestions on deepening one's prayer life, eliminating gossip, achieving humility or even dealing with Satan, etc. It is solid stuff. As a man, I just want practical measures to help move me along in life - and this book does it. It is concrete. Nothing is trite. My book is a highlighted mess.
As I read on, I found myself sharing a few of my more favorite hacks with my teenagers. I've also already implemented some of her hacks - for instance in her chapter on Spiritual Protection, she writes, "Take authority in your home by claiming your children for God. Say a prayer to consecrate them to God, and consecrate them to the Blessed Mother for their protection." Done. Simple, yet profound and practical. There are tons of spiritual insights such as this one in her book.
I also appreciated her manner of setting the tone for each chapter with her own personal anecdotes, insights and quotes from saints, the Catechism and even interviews with exorcists. We need more practical advice to attain peaceful and holier lives in these difficult Church days. Armstrong's book points us there - at least it did me.
February 24, 2019
Packed with hundreds of do-able ways to grow in holiness, this book is filled with tips, but it's not simply bullet point after bullet point. Sections of tips are interspersed with introductions of the people whose tips are offered here, explanations of virtue, and information about Catholic practices, which makes for fascinating reading. While it's fine to read Holy Hacks from start to finish, you might get more out of it if you start at chapter 1, then skip around to the sections you feel you most need at the moment. Like your favorite cookbook, this handbook should be easy to reach when you need it for quick reference.
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Read my full review.
August 28, 2020
I really enjoyed this easy-to-read book that gives countless hacks to keeping your Catholic faith front and center in your life. The suggestions are easy enough to implement into your life. It makes you wonder why you hadn't thought of some of these before. I know I'll still be using some of these hacks in the years ahead. The segments covered included holy hacks for humility, relationships, spiritual protection, evangelizing, against gossip, for Lent, Christmas, Easter, etc. This is a book you will want to keep on hand for future reference.
December 31, 2020
I think this book has a lot of good ideas for everyday virtue and creating habits of prayer, mercy, and humility. I thought it was a bit odd how often exorcists were used as sources, even beyond the section on spiritual warfare. I would have liked to have seen some more Catholics who are not necessarily affiliated with Catholic orgs--like Martin Sheen or Stephen Colbert--in the section on hacks Catholics from the media.
May 21, 2019
Holy...hacks! What a great job Patti Maguire Armstrong has done by showing us a simple, day-by-day way to holiness! This book is packed with wisdom without heady theology. Perfect helper on our road to heaven.
June 30, 2019
This book is full of excellent ideas of ways to live your faith in a day to day manner in the little things. Some of the suggestions I’ve been doing for years, but others will give me new fuel for the journey. There are good insights from a variety of catholic Christian authors and media people.
November 15, 2019
This book is focused on providing the reader ideas for how to get closer to God and to live every day in a more Christian manner. While many were interesting ideas, overall much of it was common sense and there wasn’t as much content as some of the other books we’ve read in our church book club.
September 22, 2019
I read through this quickly the first time and now I'm looking forward to going back and putting some of these ideas into practice. Perfect book!
July 25, 2022
Provided me with creative ways to increase my faith and show God's love to others. Would definitely recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews